FWPA announce nominees for Director post
Highly credentialed executives from Australia’s well-known forest and wood product companies and agencies were amongst a strong field of candidates, who applied to be Directors of the new industry-owned service and promotion company, Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) .
After a thorough assessment process, three candidates are being put forward for election to become Directors at FWPA’s inaugural Annual General Meeting on October 8th.
The AGM and the election of three new Directors is a part of the company’s transition year from Commonwealth statutory research and development corporation to an industry-owned service agency.
The three candidates are Vince Erasmus, Chief Executive Officer of ITC, Nick Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Forests NSW and Jim Snelson, Chief Executive Officer of Carter Holt Harvey Wood Products.
FWPA Director Kathryn Adams was non-voting chair of the company’s Director Selection Committee, which included representatives from major stakeholder groups and an independent member nominated by the Board.
Kathryn Adams said all of the 21 candidates for the three board vacancies had outstanding professional credentials.
“The company constitution requires that the selection process identify nominees that will complement and strengthen the skills of the ongoing Directors such that the final Board will have a balance of prescribed skills to take the company forward. This was an extremely difficult task given the high calibre of all the candidates”, she said.
“However, the committee’s decision was unanimous, and we believe the three director-nominees we are putting forward to members for election in October will result in a Board of directors with a diverse skill set to tackle the increasing challenges and opportunities for the industry in research and development and the Company’s expanded role of generic wood promotion.”
FWPA Chairman Ron Adams said the quality of all the candidates and the three Director nominees reflect strong industry support for the new direction of the company, in addition to its traditional research and development role.
“It also highlights the enthusiasm of industry members for greater involvement in the direction of both the company and the future of the industry,” he said.
“We look forward to the continued support of members at the AGM in Melbourne on Wednesday, October 8.”
FWPA’s Director-nominees:
Vince Erasmus
Vince Erasmus has been the Chief Executive Officer of hardwood plantation forestry manager and timber processors ITC, since February 2006.
A qualified forester and experienced saw miller, he has extensive skills and expertise in management of both softwood and hardwood capacity in South Africa and Australia as well as broad experience in the solid wood-processing environment.
Vince Erasmus has had considerable exposure to maximising product yields and returns through investment in and management of processing options ranging from sawmilling, veneer and plywood production of fibre-based panels.
Nick Roberts
Nick Roberts has had 27 years of experience in the major sectors of the forest products industry including pulp and paper, saw milling and plantation and native forest operations.
The last 20 years of his career have been in senior management roles where he has also been very involved in industry affairs and served on the board of Forest Research in New Zealand.
Nick Roberts is currently chief executive officer of Forests NSW. Nick Roberts has filled a temporary vacancy as a Director of FWPA since late 2007.
Jim Snelson
Jim Snelson is an experienced business leader and Chief Executive Officer of Carter Holt Harvey Wood Products, an Australasian forest products company, with significant interests in wood products, pulp, paper and packaging. He brings extensive strategic business restructuring and market development skills gained over more than 20 years.
Jim Snelson has the proven capacity to position business activity to maximise growth, lead and drive executive teams and strong customer relationships.
29-Aug-2008